Labriola re-elected as state's GOP chairman

Neil Vigdor

Published 12:22 am, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Going on seven years without a victory in a statewide election, Connecticut Republicans overwhelmingly voted Tuesday to stick with Jerry Labriola Jr. as party chairman.

Labriola, 55, who was elevated from party treasurer to chairman by Republican leaders in 2011, will preside over the GOP for the municipal election cycle this year and for next year's gubernatorial and congressional contests.

A Wallingford lawyer who comes from a political family with roots in Naugatuck, Labriola avoided a last-minute challenge from his predecessor, Christopher Healy, who had been testing the waters about a comeback after leaving the chairman's post two years ago.

Labriola termed his re-election an honor and privilege during an interview with Hearst Connecticut Newspapers in which he alluded to the challenges faced by Republicans in Connecticut.

"I have learned that it is a job where you get credit for nothing and you're blamed for everything, but I still love it," said Labriola, who is paid $52,000 annually.

Republicans make up the smallest bloc of the electorate in Connecticut after unaffiliated voters and Democrats, who hold every statewide office, all five congressional districts, both U.S. Senate seats and overwhelming majorities in both chambers of the General Assembly.

State Rep. Themis Klarides, R-114th District, who was elected to a second term as the party's vice chairwoman, said Labriola has shown an enthusiasm for the job.

"I think he's come a ways since he was elected two years ago," Klarides said.

Looking forward to the next two years, Labriola said he was encouraged by the recent special election victory by Republican Sam Belsito in the 53rd House District, a Democratic stronghold once represented by Nancy Wyman, the lieutenant governor.

"We had a snap referendum on Gov. Malloy's mishandling of the economy in the special election two weeks ago, and the decisive outcome of that race certainly buoys our optimism about our prospects in the next 17 months," Labriola said.